Your Photos Are Organized. Now What?

We always talk about the importance of organizing your photos to make sure that all those memories are safe and preserved. It’s what this whole blog is about. Yet, sometimes, we forget to mention what comes next. Once your photos are organized, then what? To help answer this very important question, we’ve turned to our amazing colleague Leanne Lobe from Līv Mōndō, and she’s going to share some ideas for getting your photos off your computer, out of the cloud, and back into your life. Enjoy!

 

Self-Five for Having Your Photos Organized!

You are the guardian of your family memories. It’s an enormous responsibility and often an invisible task. You have spent countless hours:

• Deleting duplicates
• Backing up
• Cataloging

You know way more about metadata than you ever imagined! This photo organizing stuff…it’s kind of like doing the dishes or the laundry: it’s never done! It seems to be always on your to-do list.

So, before we move on, let’s all take a moment to do a self-five. Your system may not be perfect, but you’re the envy of your friends who seem to be drowning in an avalanche of images on multiple devices. You should be proud and recognize all the work you’ve done. Your family and friends will appreciate it. Yeah you!

 

Now What?

Well now is the time to ask yourself a really important question: Why did you take all these photos?

The end-goal was never to have them organized. That is just a means-to-an-end. I admit I can be totally distracted (and yes, a bit obsessed) with decluttering and keywording. I can get caught up in naming conventions and workflows. So fun! (I knew you are my people!) But having them all neatly organized on my computer, in the cloud or even in a photo box, doesn’t actually keep these memories in your life. They don’t become part of your story in the same way.

But we’re in luck because having an organized photo collection is the starting point! For the chefs in the crowd, it’s like having your mis-en-place: all your ingredients, chopped, measured and ready to go before you turn on the stove. So, with your organized collection, we can get started preparing beautiful things with your key ingredients: all those beautiful photos!

Let’s get those photos back into our lives in tangible ways so we can keep the memories alive. After all that’s why we took all those photos in the first place… so we wouldn’t forget a thing!

 

It’s Even More Important Now that We’re All Socially-Isolated…

Memory-keeping and photos are important all the time. However, they seem to take on a special significance in times like these when we’re separated from our loved ones. When we feel vulnerable, we become nostalgic. We crave comfort and connection. With that in mind, we curated a list of four ways to use your enviably organized photo collection to bring together friends and family.

 

 

4 Great Projects / Ideas

Bring your family and friends together to remember some of your favourite moments, or to live vicariously through each other’s travels. Whether you’re isolating together or socially-distant, the following ideas can help you feel connected:

 

1. Digital Photo Frame

A digital photo frame can trigger spontaneous storytelling. Especially when it’s placed in an area where your family naturally congregates. The kitchen or family room is a logical spot because it’s often where people are coming together to relax, to step away from their online learning, or as break from working at home.

The best part is that even if you don’t have a dedicated digital photo frame, like Nixplay, your Google Chromecast or computer screensaver works well too.

 

 

Quick Start Guide:

1. Create a collection of photos around a specific theme, such as:
   • Weekend getaways
   • Birthday parties
   • First days of school
   • Grandpa as a little boy
   • Water sports
   • Funny faces
   • “Bloopers”
   • Snuggling with pets
2. Add photos for this theme into your collection.
3. Transfer the photos to your digital frame, update Ambient Mode for Chromecast, or your computer’s screensaver settings.

 

 

Bonus Points

Share this collection with your family at a distance so they can add these collections to their digital frames, Chromecasts, or screensavers too! They’ll love you for taking the time to curate these memories.

 

 

2. Photo Book

You always wish you had time to make a photo book, but now with your schedule cleared, this may be your opportunity. If your kids are home, include them in the project and have them be responsible for some of the pages. This is a great cross-disciplinary project, perhaps they’ll get extra credit for their English and Art classes once school is back in session.

There are so many photo book companies and apps out there, yet no one “perfect” solution. If you’re overwhelmed by the options, use the below questions to help you find the right one for you and your project. You can’t go wrong with making a book, especially if your goal is to create long-lasting memories of your special moments.

 

 

Quick Start Guide:

• Does your photo organizing program have an imbedded photo book module?

This can be the fastest and most efficient way to get started. For example, if you’re using Apple Photos, you can install extensions that allow you to make books and other projects seamlessly; Lightroom has a Book Module so you can design your book, edit your images, and order from Blurb without ever leaving the program.

• How much design control do you want?

Most programs have templates you can use, which is a nice starting point. However, not all offer the ability to customize these layouts or add special fonts. This may not be a factor for you, but if you like control, you’ll want to choose a program that gives you freedom.

• Is quality or price your priority?

Your answer may change depending on the theme of your book, but this is an important consideration. If you are very price-sensitive, you will make different choices than if you prioritize quality. For example, you may choose a smaller book, standard paper and a softcover instead of a large, hand-made linen hard-cover book using premium paper. There is a photo book for every budget.

 

 

Bonus Points

Order extra copies and deliver them to your friends and family so they can share the memories too! You put all that time and energy into creating the book, so you might as well spread the love.

 

3. Cards – Post Cards, Greeting cards

Now that we’re all connecting so much by text, instant messaging and video calls, it can be a real treasure to send and receive hand-written messages. On an actual, physical piece of paper. Knowing that someone not only thought of you, but took the time to write and mail something (where did they even find stamps!?!). Heart-warming.

It doesn’t matter whether you choose to print postcards or greeting cards… as they say “it’s the thought that counts.” And when you send a personal card using one of your own photos, well that thought counts double!

 

 

Quick Start Guide:

1. Use one of the collections you created for your digital photo frame.
2. Create a set of cards with a different photo on each card.
3. Now you’re ready for any occasion…but sometimes they are most appreciated when they arrive “just because.”
4. Don’t forget the stamps!

 

Bonus Points

Order a set of custom photo stickers to go with your cards. Send a blank card, sticker and stamped envelope along with your personal note so the recipient can send a note back to you…or start a letter-writing chain.

 

4. Family Slideshow Night

No doubt you’ve had family game nights and family movie nights. Why not add family slideshow night?

 

 

Quick Start Guide:

1. Choose a theme (or designate a “host” who selects the theme)
2. Set a night (and hey, why not make it a weekly, monthly, or annual ritual?)
3. Plan your snacks (make it a party!)
4. Prepare your presentation plan (Yes, you can gather everyone around the computer, but can you show it on your TV? Use a portable projector?)
5. Gather everyone around and be ready for the stories to fly!

Bonus Points

Use your fancy tech skills to include family and friends who live far away. With video calling through Zoom or Google Hangouts, you can share your screens so you can rediscover your favourite moments together and make the miles disappear!

 

[Editor’s Note: Thanks Leanne for all these fabulous ideas! I’m putting all of these on my list ASAP!]

What say you, readers? What is can you do this month to share some photos with loved ones?

 

Photos Courtesy of Leanne Lobe // Līv Mōndō+ Martha in Venice // Flytographer